Waiting Periods Reduce Gun Deaths... What's Your Take?

Here is the biggest problems with waiting periods, it makes guns useless for what they’re most needed for, protecting a woman or other individual who has a murderous person after them. Like a crazy ex boyfriend who has lost everything after being arrested and blames the arrest on her. In that moment, when you have someone who has made credible threats against you, you need a gun. What the hell is the point if you have to wait? You should be able to get around any wait time by showing a judge through a free process that you are in danger, such as if you’ve had a temporary restraining order granted in your favor.

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@CriticalThinky That suggestion could take years if ever implemented. Great suggestion but; governing authorities move at glacial speed. It would be better for the short term to buy the firearm, and go away from their area be it state protection, be it protection of private sector security forces, be it local serious law enforcement or possible responsible retired police officers for the 72 hour interval between filling out your 4473 and paying for your purchase. But speeding up a government agency it would be faster having a root canal. But, politicians could start the process of “streamlining” (isn’t that an oxymoron).

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That is exactly what I was thinking. There are situations (mainly involving domestic violence) where someone who’s life is being threatened needs access to a firearm for self defense. This is especially true when the violent person is larger, stronger, etc, and doesn’t necessarily need a weapon to kill the other person.

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@Christine Welcome Christine to the community!

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Welcome to the Community, @Christine!

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I agree. Waiting periods are yet another infringement to law abiding citizens. Current gun laws and background checks (also infringements) settle the issue. If you pass, you should be able to pay and receive immediately. Here in Florida there is no waiting period if you have a CCW PERMIT. you can buy as many guns as you want and walk out same day. Also, all records must be destroyed within 72 hrs One of the main reasons I left Baltimore, Md and moved to Florida.

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Exactly. Welcome to the community too.

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How do they get stats on stuff that did not happen?

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You just watch for trends. if every year 10 things happen, you put in place something new and now you have 5 things every year happen you count it as a success.

This is susceptible to causation/correlation problems. Did the thing you did make the change? Or did it just happen coincidentally at the same time? In a complex issue like gun violence where there are potentially many different variables (usually the least of which is the firearms) it’s especially hard to pin down.

If it’s done right, you have a very specific set of measurable goals that you can tie directly to your action. When done poorly, well…

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Absolutely. There was a women in New Jersey who’s ex boyfriend threatened to kill her. While waiting for 3 day clearance he did just that. You can find cases like this all over the internet. It’s sad that these Infringements cost lives and no one takes responsibility for it when it happens. Especially not ignorant law makers and legislators who don’t know the difference between a magazine and a clip. Sad.

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This socialist agenda has nothing to do with reducing deaths. It is all about systematic banning of firearms…ALL firearms. Think about it. When all the magazine capacities are limited to 5 and a killing takes place with a Remington 541s (bolt action 5 round capacity magazine) or a break action Henry rifle they will go after those. Without 2A…all of our God given rights will disappear. 2A holds it all together. The deep state knows it wouldn’t be wise to go door to door and confiscate guns. Therefore, their only option is what you see going on today…unconstitutional laws being legislated by our tyrannical Congress and in certain States, e.g., Washington State, Virginia.

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The fact that most mass shootings are not spur of the moment shootings. I could be wrong but in most of the mass shootings I have read about. They took long periods of time to plan out their attacks.

I am not going to speak to gun suicides as that is a painful topic for me especially right now. But a 3 day cooling off period would not have helped.

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